Something we don’t discuss too much on this site is the performance of Scott Brooks as head coach of the Thunder. I think most would be of the opinion that it’s much too early to form opinions about Brooks’ ability to steer the team going forward, having only 69 games to prove himself. But the opinions will begin to be formed during this upcoming season.

We all know he says the right things, and that he seems to be genuinely well liked by just about everyone. He seemed to be level headed yet passionate on the sidelines and I never really thought he was completely outcoached at any point last year (like I often did the previous season and early in ’08 under Pajamas Carlesimo). For me, a real defining time for Brooks came in late February when Kevin Durant went down for 7 games and 4 of those were also without Jeff Green. The team went 5-2 during that stretch and almost overnight got the team to buy into a lockdown defensive mode. It was genius. Coach Brooks really showed me he could coach.

This picture from Friday night’s Edmond Memorial game made me feel infinitely better after a rough day. I literally chuckle, if just for split second, every time I look at it. I’m just picturing some mom or dad handing KD their baby to hold for no reason. Just makes me giggle a little. Onward and upward with life.

(Happy day friends. Hope you’re enjoying your fall break. Thanks for your support of Daily Thunder. Isn’t there a football game today?)

Per Oklahoma state law, as a media member I must mention that the Red River game is today. So as my way of getting it done, let’s give it up to everyone’s favorite Whorn, Kevin Durant. He’s honestly the only person affiliated with Austin that I can say that I even remotely like. We all know who KD is rooting for today and that’s fine, but it’s good to know that he’s now with us and not against us.

Throughout the week some of you drop some brilliant or at least somewhat thoughtful comments and so this is a try at highlighting some of them. Disclaimer: It’s not that I necessarily agree with all of them, but they were interesting and for the most part, well put. Consider everything [sic’d].

You’re telling me you wouldn’t rather have Yi Jianlian? (Keith): Can anyone name a single player drafted since 2007 they would rather have than Durant right now? Even with a wonky +/-, he’s easily better than everyone from his own draft class. Last year, the stiffest competition would be from Rose and Lopez, but Rose doesn’t defend either and Lopez’s team was only mediocre because of Harris and Carter. Perhaps Griffin could ultimately be as good, but we are a stellar rookie campaign and huge follow-up away from even thinking about the comparison. Keep Reading…

Remember, chat with me on ESPN.com at 1:30 CDT today. Here’s a link to make your life easier.

Get to know Kevin Durant: “So we know you like to bowl and play video games. Which are you better at? “Video games. I can’t bowl that well, but video games I’m probably better at.” Favorite game of all time? “Madden.” Favorite team you like to play with? “The Ravens. Defense – I score all my points off defense.” What’s the toughest game you’ve played? “Call of Duty. I played that for a couple of days and after a couple of days it was too tough to beat so I just stopped.”

KD is a team player: “It’s no surprise Kevin Durant is really pushing the team angle this week. When asked by FanHouse if he wants to play for Team USA in the World Championships next summer in Turkey, the Oklahoma City forward couldn’t stop talking about how badly he wants to represent his country. Sounds as if he’d settle for the role of scorekeeper. Asked, though, about wanting to play next February in his first All-Star Game, Durant mostly just shrugged. This is apparently not a good time to be talking about such an individual accomplishment.” Keep Reading…

NBATV is doing previews for all 30 teams. Oklahoma City’s day and time is Tuesday, Oct. 20 at 6:30 Oklahoma time.

Nick Collison is a little bothered by his ankle injury: “I haven’t even practiced, yet, so I’m definitely going to be behind,” Collison said. “Yeah, I’m concerned. I’ll be fine eventually. You never want to be behind. But you also want to be 100 percent. I’m doing pretty good with the pain. It’s the explosiveness is what I don’t have.”

HoopsVine has a Thunder preview: “Sorry Thunder faithful, no playoffs this year but the franchise is heading in the right direction. Point guard is cause for concern with an explosive, but erratic youngster calling the shots. The team is relying on Livingston to be the primary backup and that statement by itself tells you all that’s needed to know. Durant is dynamic enough to lead this team to 30-33 wins and Oklahoma City will upset numerous opponents throughout the season.” Keep Reading…

(Edit: My initial plan was to write an article about our human nature to feed into the hype of unknown quantities, such as, say, Serge Ibaka, and believe that our scouts lucked into a rare talent who escaped the radar of every other team…then I watched him play against the Suns on Monday, and can’t consider myself above the fold. Chewbaka for Defensive Player of the Year! On another note, make sure to read the OU/TX rivalry breakdown that Royce posted over at TheLostOgle.com.)

Throughout my life, I have been pretty tough on referees. When playing intramural/rec league basketball, I have been known to blame the guys in black and white stripes for everything from a blown call to world hunger. Watching games on television, without the risk of getting T’d up, I have been even less kind.

Now that you know this about me, it will come as no surprise to you that my initial reaction to news that the NBA referees union was being locked out by the league offices was less than sympathetic. “Good riddance,” I thought to myself, “how could the replacements be any worse?”

Then, dread spread down my spine as I began to realize, “they could be a lot worse.”

As infuriating as the NBA referees can be, see here, they do have a ton of training and experience that scabs called up from the D-League/CBA/NCAA, or wherever they find replacements, cannot replicate. And that shortfall is only the biggest problem assuming the league was able to get the best non-NBA referees available…but that is not the case. Guys who have the objective and talent to eventually officiate NBA games for a living probably turned down the opportunity to fill in. If they did cross the picket line, they would lose out on future benefits afforded by the referee’s union.

So we aren’t talking just about replacement referees, we are talking about bottom of the barrel referees. Oh, joy!

On the flipside, some of that experience that the seasoned zebras possess, can actually be a detriment that these green, over-their-head scabs could actually improve upon the normal product. Because of these conflicting ideas, I have a pro/con list regarding this lockout after the jump.